What you can change on your Facebook account

Facebook lets you change your name, email address, password, phone number, profile picture, and privacy settings without closing your account or starting over. You can also change which email or phone number you use to log in, update your date of birth, and adjust who can see your posts and contact information. Most changes take effect right away, though some—like a name change—have a waiting period before you can change again.

The settings you can modify depend on whether you're using Facebook on a computer or phone, but the options are the same either way. Some changes require you to confirm your identity by entering your password or checking a code sent to your email or phone.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your name, email, password, and phone number from the Settings & Privacy menu, which you reach by clicking the menu icon in the top right corner.
  • Name changes have a waiting period—you cannot change your name again for 60 days after your last change.
  • If you change your email address, you will need to confirm the new address by clicking a link Facebook sends to it.
  • Privacy settings let you control who sees your posts, profile information, and friend list without changing your account itself.
  • If you forget your password, use the "Forgot Password" link on the login page to reset it through your email or phone number.

How to change your name on Facebook

Open Facebook and click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner. Select Settings & Privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Personal Information, then click Name. Type your new name in the field and click Review Change. Facebook will show you how your new name will appear; click Save Changes to confirm.

Facebook requires you to wait 60 days between name changes. If you try to change your name before that period ends, you'll see a message telling you when you can change it again. The site uses this rule to prevent misuse, not because of a technical limit—it's a policy Facebook enforces on all accounts.

How to change your email address or phone number

Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Personal Information. Click Email or Phone depending on which you want to change. If you're changing your email, type the new address and click Add Email. Facebook will send a confirmation link to that email address—click the link to verify it. Once verified, you can set it as your primary email (the one you use to log in) by clicking the radio button next to it.

If you're changing your phone number, enter the new number and select your country from the dropdown. Click Add Phone Number. Facebook may send a code to that number to confirm it's yours. If you no longer have access to an old email or phone number, you can remove it by clicking the X or Remove button next to it.

How to change your password

Click the menu icon in the top right, then go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Password. Enter your current password, then type your new password twice (once to enter it, once to confirm). Click Save Changes. You'll be logged out of all devices and will need to log back in with your new password.

If you've forgotten your password, go to the Facebook login page and click Forgot Password? Enter your email address or phone number, and Facebook will send you a link to reset it. Open the link in your email and create a new password. This process works even if you can't remember your old password—you only need access to the email or phone number connected to your account.

How to change your privacy settings

Privacy settings control who can see your posts, profile information, and friend list. Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Privacy. You'll see options for Who can see your posts?, Who can contact you?, and Who can look you up? Click each one to choose between Public (anyone on or off Facebook), Friends (only people you've added), or Only Me (no one but you).

You can also control privacy for individual posts when you create them. Before you post, click the audience selector (it shows a globe, friends icon, or lock) and choose who sees that specific post. This overrides your default privacy setting for that post only.

How to change your profile picture or cover photo

Go to your profile by clicking your name or profile picture anywhere on Facebook. Click your profile picture to open it, then click the camera icon in the bottom right corner. Choose Upload Photo to pick a picture from your device, or Choose from Photos to use a photo you've already uploaded to Facebook. For your cover photo, click the cover image itself, then click the camera icon and follow the same steps.

You can also delete your profile picture by clicking it, then clicking the trash icon. Facebook will show a generic silhouette as your profile picture until you upload a new one.

How to change your login email or phone number

The email or phone number you use to log in is called your primary contact. You can have multiple emails and phone numbers on your account, but only one can be primary. Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Email or Phone. Find the email or phone number you want to use for login, and click the radio button next to it to make it primary. The next time you log in, you can use this new email or phone number instead of the old one.

If you want to remove an old email or phone number entirely, click the X or Remove button next to it. You must have at least one email or phone number on your account at all times—Facebook won't let you remove your only contact method.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Facebook name more than once?

You can change your name as often as you want, but Facebook enforces a 60-day waiting period between changes. If you change your name and then try to change it again before 60 days have passed, you'll see a message telling you when you can change it next. This applies to every name change, not just certain types of changes.

What happens if I change my email address?

When you change your email, Facebook sends a confirmation link to the new address. You must click that link to verify the email belongs to you. Until you confirm it, you cannot use it to log in. Your old email remains on your account until you remove it, so you can still log in with the old email if needed.

Do I need to confirm my identity to change my password?

Yes, you need to enter your current password to change it. If you've forgotten your current password, use the "Forgot Password" link on the login page to reset it through your email or phone number instead of going through Settings.

Can I change who sees my friend list?

Yes. Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Privacy and look for Who can see your friends list? You can set it to Public, Friends, or Only Me. This setting applies to your entire friend list—you cannot hide individual friendships from specific people.

What if I change my phone number in real life?

Update your phone number in Facebook Settings so you can still use it to log in or reset your password. Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Phone, remove your old number, and add your new one. Facebook will send a code to confirm the new number is yours.